Experts in the air travel eco – system have called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to  expand the scope/ template it is using for the on – going audit of active scheduled carriers operating in the country’s airspace.

They said the exercise which border on the safety, technical , economic and financial health of local carriers has become compelling to restore the confidence of the traveling public.

Speaking in separate interviews, President of Top Brass Aviation, Captain Roland Iyayi, Acting Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo , Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari  and President of

National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA),as well as a former chief of the NCAA , who pleaded not be named agree that  overhauling the operations of airlines through continuous safety and compliance with all  regulations and recommended practices, will  ensure  airlines are up to date in all aspects.

Investigations reveal that latest push by the apex civil aviation regulatory body to conduct a comprehensive safety and economic audit of airlines came on the heels of the decision by one of the carriers , which was involved in major incident.

Speaking on the development, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu said :” The safety audit will involve a re-inspection of Max Air’s organisation, procedures, personnel, and aircraft, as specified by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.”

He added that the economic audit would assess the airline’s financial health to ensure it can sustain safe flight operations.

Achimugu said the NCAA had commenced organisational risk profiles for each of the scheduled operators.

Speaking in a recent interview,  .Chief Executive Officer, Topbrass Aviation, Captain Roland Iyayi  said regulatory overhaul of local carriers should include  multiple licensing structure for airlines.

Iyayi said the implementation of such a structure should be determined by the scale of operations of the airline.

The NCAA , Iyayi said, should license airlines according to the type of aircraft they use for their operations, arguing that classifying all scheduled operators under the same structure was inappropriate.

He stressed that charter operators, schedule operators and carriers who use small and medium range equipment should not be classified into the same operational category.The proposed licensing structure, he said, should be determined by the scale of operations of the affected airlines, such that the regulatory framework will cater for the carriers according to the volume of operations.

Iyayi said the structure should include: air taxis, for airlines that use small propeller aircraft; regional operators, for those that utilise medium range aircraft and national airlines, which have capacity to fly over the country, arguing that it does not make economic sense to classify all scheduled operators under the same operational regime.

On the way forward, Iyayi said: “For things to change, enforcement of regulations is key. We need to review our policies that do not support growth. We must review the licensing structure of airlines to accommodate the different niches that operators want to come into. I think the one-cap-fits-all mentality is wrong. There is a wisdom in licensing airlines based on their categories.”

The  acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Caption. Chris Najomo last year  disclosed that if  the regulator strictly abides by the dictates of the financial audit conducted on Nigerian carriers, it could expose the underbelly of their sustainability.

To assist them remain in business, he said the NCAA  continues to support indigenous carriers,to ensure safety is not compromised.

This, he said informed the regulator’s convictions in putting together a  recent regional summit with the theme :” Repositioning the Nigerian Aviation Industry for Financial Capability and Economic Viability: An Inclusive Regulatory Dialogue.”

Najomo said the summit assisted on  strengthening airlines and other service providers to enhance operational efficiency and international competitiveness.He said :”  Supporting the sustainable growth of the local airline industry while promoting compliance with national and international obligations and assessing existing local laws and international regulations to ensure compliance and improve funding, financial management, and safety amongst others.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari said the National Assembly  is working on a bill that will mandate Nigerian airlines to have between four to five aircraft before they can start operations.

Buhari said the proposed bill is one way to address capacity issues and other challenges Nigerian.carrietsbare grappling with.

Experts say the on – going audit of local carriers will provide a window for the NCAA to re- examine its policy prescribing a minimum fleet of six aircraft for schedulrd airlines.

On his part, President of NANTA, Mr Yinka Folami  expressed deep concern over the increasing number of near-fatal incidents in the Nigerian local travel space, calling on all stakeholders to prioritize safety and address operational concerns.

While welcoming the on – going audit of local.carriets by the NCAA, Folami said  an organisational risk audit for all airlines operating in Nigeria is long overdue.

 Folami urged airline operators and government aviation regulatory agencies to put aside their differences and work together to enhance emergency response systems and ensure the safety of passengers.

He said : “We are worried about the growing spate of near-fatal incidents in the Nigerian aviation space and the impact it has on the travelling public”.

He noted that, the association’s appeal has been echoed by some of its customers, who have expressed their anxieties and worries about the safety of air travel in Nigeria.

“We urge all stakeholders to come together and address the challenges facing the industry to restore confidence in air travel across Nigeria.

“NANTA also commended ongoing investigations into the challenges in the system, but emphasized the need for proactive measures to ensure the safety and unimpeded journeys of passengers.

“We cannot pretend that we are not concerned about the safety of our customers. We urge all stakeholders to work together to minimize risks and maximize passengers’ protection.”

Experts canvass rejig of operational model for NCAA’s airlines’ audit - The Nation NewspaperExperts canvass rejig of operational model for NCAA’s airlines’ audit - The Nation Newspaper

Experts canvass rejig of operational model for NCAA’s airlines’ audit - The Nation Newspaper